Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS): A New Kreutz Sungrazer Approaching the Sun
Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS), discovered on January 13, has been identified as a member of the Kreutz sungrazing comets family. It is projected to pass within approximately 120,000 kilometers of the Sun's surface in early April, with potential for visibility in the evening sky and possibly broad daylight, contingent on its structural integrity during the close approach.
Discovery and Classification
On January 13, four amateur astronomers discovered Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) using a remotely operated telescope located in the Atacama Desert.
The object has subsequently been classified as a member of the Kreutz sungrazing comets family.
Orbital Path and Potential Visibility
The comet is currently on an elongated orbit that will bring it to within approximately 120,000 kilometers of the Sun's surface, its point of closest approach (perihelion), in early April.
Its potential visibility in the evening sky during early April, and possibly in broad daylight when it is closest to the Sun, depends on its ability to remain intact during this close encounter.
Following perihelion, the comet is expected to transition into the evening sky, where it may be more readily observable from the Southern Hemisphere. A late fragmentation near the Sun could result in a sudden increase in its brightness.
The Kreutz Sungrazing Comets Family
Kreutz sungrazing comets are fragments believed to originate from a single large cometary nucleus, estimated to be over 100 kilometers in diameter.
This progenitor comet is thought to have undergone fragmentation after a close solar encounter in the 3rd or 4th century BCE, with subsequent close approaches leading to further fragmentation, such as those observed in 1106 and 1138. Historically, these fragments have been associated with some of the brightest comets observed, including the Great Comet of 1965 (C/1965 S1 Ikeya-Seki), which was visible to the naked eye during the day, and the Great Comet of 1882 (C/1882 R1).
NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has detected thousands of smaller Kreutz fragments over time, with larger ones appearing less frequently. A notable larger Kreutz sungrazer, discovered by Terry Lovejoy, was observed in 2011, which survived its perihelion and reportedly reached Venus-like brightness. Predictions by Zdeněk Sekanina suggest the possibility of two significant sungrazers in the coming decades.
Characteristics and Outlook for Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS)
Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) was discovered at a greater distance from the Sun than any previously identified sungrazer, a record previously held by Comet Ikeya-Seki (1965). While advancements in technology may influence the early detection, this characteristic suggests it may be a substantial Kreutz fragment or undergoing an outburst.
Recent observations indicate the comet is steadily brightening.
Its future visibility is contingent upon its survival during its closest approach to the Sun.
NASA's SOHO spacecraft is anticipated to capture images of the comet during its passage.